ATOT, Fenixgoon NEEDS YOUR HELP!

[l0cke]

The plane takes off

 

[oiprocs]

Originally posted by: l0cke
The plane takes off

My timewarp takes off.

 

[JTsyo]

I just come here for the free iPods.

I think it's going to be hard to define an overall culture for ATOT. Are the memes really culture? FAIL boat and Bulk Beef isn't really anyone's values.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

actually, i do act the same way pretty much. although, i'll admit it's easier to be less subtle online because you don't have to deal with the person physically near you.

i say the same things i say here around friends irl. in fact, i am actually a bit more reserved here. although, i would never invite a real friend here to read how much i post and then wonder why i hang out with you guys.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

i am completely the same in real life. i have no need for different personalities in games, fora, etc.

 

[kranky]

My impression of the ATOT culture...

I think many members are not skilled at RL relationships so they try to fit in here by emulating other posters. You see people who rarely post jump into threads to post some worn-out cliche like "pics?" or "tl;dr" since that isn't going to attract any negative replies. There's an element of mob mentality because the social construct permits members to be insulting without fear of reprisal. I think this is why over the years the content of threads has generally evolved from a give-and-take discussion into one-line replies, since an insult does not require any reasoned response. I would suspect the average post length has shrunk considerably over time. Emulating others doesn't work IRL, but it gives people a way to try to fit in online.

One example of how people try to fit in is by pointing out anything that is a repost. This is a way of saying "I'm more connected here than you are, since I know this is a repost." I've seen people yell "repost!" for something that was last mentioned in over a year.

It's an anti-religion, entertainment-oriented group that skews heavily towards 30 and under in age. Like any culture, the majority imposes its norms on the culture simply by its strength in numbers. What I find interesting is the tech forums are the polar opposite - generally helpful members with much less rancor.

Another interesting characteristic is a tendency to flame new members, regardless of what they post. It's like circling the wagons against an unknown alien.

No offense to any members here, just some observations.

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

I don't act any differently here than IRL, but I sure as hell hope that a lot of other people do. People IRL wouldn't get away with saying some of the things posted here without getting a fist in the face.

 

[sdifox]

BBO

 

[zinfamous]

Cool. Had a similar project like this back in school for a writing theory class, where we had to examine a particular discourse community--a group of people with its own language (slang), text, insiders, etc. Very similar to this, and ATOT or [insert internet forum here] would fit.

Going on that, I'd say you would do well to spend some time discussing the intertext--the slang and such that no one outside the forums would understand, let alone any other internet forum. Somewhat interesting that there seems to be a Universal Internet subtext, and then very specific slang that exists within individual forums. Also, how members migrate from one forum to another and spread language from place to place, much like cultural mixing in neighboring countries.

For ATOT, there are the obvious 4-Channers, and they are easy to spot. Even so, the language they use in their posts does influence the style of posting here.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: kranky
My impression of the ATOT culture...

I think many members are not skilled at RL relationships so they try to fit in here by emulating other posters. You see people who rarely post jump into threads to post some worn-out cliche like "pics?" or "tl;dr" since that isn't going to attract any negative replies. There's an element of mob mentality because the social construct permits members to be insulting without fear of reprisal. I think this is why over the years the content of threads has generally evolved from a give-and-take discussion into one-line replies, since an insult does not require any reasoned response. I would suspect the average post length has shrunk considerably over time. Emulating others doesn't work IRL, but it gives people a way to try to fit in online.

One example of how people try to fit in is by pointing out anything that is a repost. This is a way of saying "I'm more connected here than you are, since I know this is a repost." I've seen people yell "repost!" for something that was last mentioned in over a year.

It's an anti-religion, entertainment-oriented group that skews heavily towards 30 and under in age. Like any culture, the majority imposes its norms on the culture simply by its strength in numbers. What I find interesting is the tech forums are the polar opposite - generally helpful members with much less rancor.

Another interesting characteristic is a tendency to flame new members, regardless of what they post. It's like circling the wagons against an unknown alien.

No offense to any members here, just some observations.

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

I don't act any differently here than IRL, but I sure as hell hope that a lot of other people do. People IRL wouldn't get away with saying some of the things posted here without getting a fist in the face.

all very true.

the anonymity emboldens many.

<----guilty from time to time

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

For the most part, I'm the same person here as I am in real life. As I'm a teacher, I realize that it would only take a moment for any student, upon realizing my nickname is "DrPizza" to do a bit of googling. As such, I generally don't post things online that I wouldn't want a relative, employer, or a student to read.

On a related note, an acquaintance who is doing hiring of college graduates related to me that as soon as he's done with the interviews, he's immediately on facebook, myspace, google, etc., finding any information he can about potential candidates.

 

[ProfJohn]

This thread gives new meaning to the term fail

 

[Peelback79]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
alright, here's another question for everyone:

when posting on AT, do you act the same way you would in real life, or do you say things that you normally wouldn't?

i am completely the same in real life. i have no need for different personalities in games, fora, etc.

Hmmm. A man with nothing to hide uses a paper bag with holes in it as an avatar. You're either a dirty liar or, judging by your name, some kind of sexual deviant. In either case I'm no less aroused. yhpm.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
Cool. Had a similar project like this back in school for a writing theory class, where we had to examine a particular discourse community--a group of people with its own language (slang), text, insiders, etc. Very similar to this, and ATOT or [insert internet forum here] would fit.

Going on that, I'd say you would do well to spend some time discussing the intertext--the slang and such that no one outside the forums would understand, let alone any other internet forum. Somewhat interesting that there seems to be a Universal Internet subtext, and then very specific slang that exists within individual forums. Also, how members migrate from one forum to another and spread language from place to place, much like cultural mixing in neighboring countries.

For ATOT, there are the obvious 4-Channers, and they are easy to spot. Even so, the language they use in their posts does influence the style of posting here.

i actually haven't noticed any 4channers o) but I do always think about the myriad of acronyms that are prevalent in internet chat. While some things have become mainstrain (brb, omg, lol, etc.) a lot of other things aren't used (IIRC, IMO/IMHO, ROFL, any leetspeak, etc.)

 

[Fenixgoon]

okay, another question. do you ever say things that you've learned on ATOT or other forums to people in real life, even if they don't understand the reference?

for example, i said "nuke it from orbit" today to one of my friends.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
okay, another question. do you ever say things that you've learned on ATOT or other forums to people in real life, even if they don't understand the reference?

for example, i said "nuke it from orbit" today to one of my friends.

I don't use references I don't know from original source. So "nuke it from orbit" is from Aliens (Which I've seen), and I would use that quote with friends, but not as an ATOT reference. Anything original to these forums I wouldn't use with friends because then I would have to explain the reference, and it wouldn't be as funny. None of my friends visit AT, though I have shown some threads to friends (TheSiege's beard photoshop, because it was hilarious).

 

[SSSnail]

All you ever need to know about ATOT.